Onion’s hell on earth: Doesn’ anybody care?

Veterinary Oath:
“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly
swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of
society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the
prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal
resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of
medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with
dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical
ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of
my professional knowledge and competence.”

Read that again, the ‘protection of animal health and welfare…’
The controversy over Onion, the dog that accidentally killed a little
boy in Henderson, Nevada over a year ago, continues with no final
outcome whatsoever.
Some people who apparently have never had a dog, or have very little
feelings for the most loyal animal on earth, have been sending letters
to the mainstream media complaining that others are giving more
attention to a dog than to humans. Even a Review-Journal editorial was
written about and against the fate of Onion.
If people wonder why we dog lovers give dogs preferential treatment
over humans, the answer is simple: humans have the tendency to
criticize others, be prejudiced and racist and backstabbing, to
exhibit criminal personalities, to double-cross, maim and murder each
other — even among so-called best friends… and especially when it is
least expected. Dogs, on the contrary, are very loyal and will protect
their owners with everything they have, whether they are little or big
in size. They accept their owner without question and it doesn’t
matter if said owner is crippled, blind, homely, old, or young. All
the dog sees is its owner — and that owner is the dog’s world.
Onion has been locked up in a cage 24/7 for the last 14 months (worse
than a human being on Death Row). It has been claimed that a
veterinarian, who is apparently ignoring the welfare of the dog, is
visiting Onion five days a week. Onion is not allowed any exercise
because all those involved in his “care” labeled him “too vicious.”
Onion is under the care of the wrong people. Don’t they realize that
by having him locked up for such a long time his heart and muscles are
getting weak? They are not “caring” for the dog, they are torturing
him. I don’t doubt that a veterinarian visits with Onion five minutes
out of the day, but the 23 hours and 55 minutes of the rest of the day
makes the animal feel totally neglected. They are torturing the dog,
contrary to their training as animal doctors and the oath they took to
protect the health and welfare of animals.
Does anybody care about this dog’s feelings? I am afraid not.
People need to understand certain things when they have a dog and a
young child in the house together; children need to be taught and
trained from a very early age to respect the space of the dog. You
cannot take it for granted that the dog is going to respect the
actions of the child. Children need to be taught, educated and trained
as young as six months old, if they are to be around pets.
Adults need to be clear and understand that it is best not to wake a
sleeping dog, because they could by accident bite you, especially if
the animal goes into deep sleep. I am sure this is what happened in
the case of Onion and the baby of the house. The baby went over to the
sleeping dog, and Onion — without any malice whatsoever — woke up to
bite the living source of whatever it was that he perceived had
attacked him.
If people, especially veterinarians with all their claimed expertise,
would take the time to read and understand the words of Stanley Coren,
Ph.D. in Canine Corner, then they would know that dogs also dream in
their sleep. Some dogs may quiver, make leg twitches or may even growl
or snap at some sleep-created phantom, giving the impression that they
are dreaming about something. At the structural level, the brains of
dogs are similar to those of humans. Also, during sleep, the brain
wave patterns of dogs are similar to that of people, and go through
the same stages of electrical activity observed in humans, all of
which is consistent with the idea that dogs are dreaming.
Again, since we don’t know what they dream about, it is always best
not to wake the sleeping dog.
What they are doing to Onion is a cruel punishment. For years this dog
was free to come and go, and I am sure he must now be wondering where
those people he grew up with are. Yes, there was a tragedy, but it was
NOT the dog’s fault. That is the hard part of this to accept. The poor
dog must sense the lack of love now from the owner who gave him away
after that episode. He obviously senses the lack of freedom and
ability to run and play while being confined to a small cage for a dog
his size.
Enough torture is just that, enough. I believe Onion should be let go
to live the remainder of his years in the best way possible; but if
local authorities, judges, the Henderson “so-called” veterinarians and
“care” givers are so stubborn as to continue mistreating this poor
dog, let him have a dignified death and allow him to cross the rainbow
bridge where he can live a better life away from evil people who don’t
know — or refuse to admit — that a dog was, is and always will be a
man’s best friend.
Perly Viasmensky is the General Manager of the Las Vegas Tribune. She
writes a weekly column in this newspaper. To contact Perly Viasmensky,
email her at pviasmensky@lasvegas tribune.com.